Superheated steam flat iron



Feb. 19, 1935. J. I DIcKMAN SUPERHEATED STEAM FLAT IRON Filed June 11, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I1 I 11/ I 11 I, 111111 1111-7 I.

Q INVENTOR H-dffllawa Feb. 19, 1935. J. l. DICKMAN v I SUPERHEflTED -STEAM FLAT IRON Filed Jxfne 11, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES SUPERHEATED s'rEAM m'r IRON Jacob I. Dickman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignmof one-half to Samuel Bean, Los Angelou,

Calif.

Application June 11, 1934, Serial No. 729,978 2 Claims. (01. 68-26 This invention is a flat-iron and more particularly is in the class of flat-irons having means for issuing. steam to the goods during the pressing operation. .1 Heretofore these so-called steam irons have been connected'by a. flexible hose to a rempte steam boiler and the steam has been brought to the iron from this remote source.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, practicable, substantial and efficient steam iron in which a supply of water brought to the iron is generated into steam in the iron structure per se thus eliminating the steam hose commonly in use in establishments usin steam irons.

It has been heretofore proposed to supply this class of irons with water and to generate the steam in the iron but such proposals have not as yet become successfully established in the laundry or clothes pressing business.

An additional object is to provide a steam iron with a preliminary or initial stage steam generator into which the supply of water is directly admitted and further to provide for thesuper heating of the generated vapor as it passes to the discharge apertures in the face of the iron. A further object is to provide for the prevention ofback flowcf the generated steam to the supply line.

And a still further object is to provide a steam iron of highly efi'icient and economical construction and of ample steam capacity.

The invention consists in certain advance-- ments in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within thescope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinafter. Figure 1 is a perspective of the iron.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation. Figure 3 is a perspective of the primary steam generator.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the electric resistance, heating element, and

Figure 5 is a perspective of the bottom or steam superheating block.

In its preferred form the iron includes a main or bottom block 2 with a polished ironing face 3 which, as shown in Fig. 5, has at its forward end is directly connected as by means of a pipe bend a system of small apertures 4 for the escape of steam from a nose chamber 5 in the iron. Leading to the chamber 5 is a circuitous, uniplane duct 6, here shown as having an inlet '1 at the rear end of the iron although it is to be under- 6 stood that this may be disposed otherwise if desired. The top of the bodyblock .2 is plane and on its rests a conventional, thin, flat electric heating unit or element 9 with terminals suitably connected to switch terminals of a switch having 10 a button 10 exposed at the rear ofa switch box 11. Resting on the tape! the heating element 9 is a flat, shallow, upper block 12 which is provided at one side or other suitable portion with a water inlet 13 leading to a circuitous or sinuous duct 14 extending substantially-the length of the block 12 and shown as having a steam outlet 15 at the rear end of the block, though it may be otherwise disposed if so desired. The steam outlet 15 16, or otherwise, to the rear end inlet '1 of the' main block 2. Y

The upper or steam generating block 12 is firmly secured to the iron block 2 as by means of substantial bolts 1'7 passing through suitable apertures in the element 9 and screwing into tapped holes 18 in the iron body 2..

A top covering box or shell 19 rests on the top of the iron body 2 and covers its superposed parts and above the shell 19 is provided a simple U- shaped handle frame 20 secured by screws 21 passing through spacers 22 on the top of the shell 19 and'then screwing into apertures 23 provided therefor in the generator block 12.

Between the upper arms of the handle frame 35 20 there is secured a suitable hand grip 24 at the rear of which is disposed the switch box 11 which extends down to the top of the shell 19.

For the purpose of supplying water to the steam block inlet 13 the latter has'a water elbow 25 extending through the side of the shell 19 and to it is attached a suitatble self-closing water valve 26 which is here shown as having a pull stem 2'1 connected at its forward end to a short crank 28 on a rock shaft 29 passing transversely across the iron and being supported in a suitable fixed bearing 30. The rock shaft is provided with an upwardly extending handle part 31 disposed for convenient operation by the same hand applied to the grip 24 during manipulation of the iron so that supply of water to the steam generating block 12 can .be instantly and conveniently controlled. y

In order to prevent the back flow of steam under pressure to the source of water supply a check valve 32 is provided, preferably above the water control valve 26 and above the check valve 32 is a suitable connection 33 for the attachment of water supply conduit. 1

From the above it will be seen that the upper block 12 becomes highly heated when the subjacent electric element 9 is energized the degree of heat being sufficient to immediately flash the small quantity of water admitted by the valve 26 into steamand because of the considerable length of the sinuous steam duct 14 the temperature of thesteam is kept high and all water thoroughly evaporated. The hot steam from the generator 12 passes directly to the lower main block 2 which being heated by the superposed heating element 9 causes the steam to be maintained at a high or superheated degree as it enters the distributing chamber 5.

From the above it will be seen that the iron has no water reservoir and that'it is highly efficient and economical in the rapid generation of steam to be supplied for pressing purposes as it issues through the vents 4 in the point of the iron.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electro-steam flat-iron, a bottom block having plane top and bottom faces and having formed between the top and bottom of the fore end a distribution chamber conforming to the plan of the fore end and having steam vents through the bottom of the iron; the block having within it a circuitous duct, one end of the duct' discharging steam to said chamber and the other end opening at the remote end of the block for fluid inlet, said chamber and said duct being formed and'wholly concealed within the body of the block.

2. In an iron of the class described; a pair of thin, fiat block members each having faces which are plane throughout their confines, and an electric heating element fixed between and separating said faces; each of said members having a fluid duct formed and wholly concealed internally therein'between its top and bottom, and. a'fiow connection between the ducts, the lower block having steam vents communicating with its duct.

JACOB I. DICKMAN. 

